Has run $158 billion (sales) Samsung Group, South Korea's largest conglomerate, for two decades. Credited with turning sleepy conglomerate into one of the world's most recognized, high-quality electronics brands. Last year particularly tumultous for Lee: In November 2007, a former Samsung employee accused Samsung of using a reported $215 million in company money to create a slush fund intended to bribe politicians and prosecutors. In January 2008, Korean agents raided the Chairman's Seoul office, looking for evidence of such claims. Lee's wife, Hong Ra-hee, director-general of the Leeum art museum in Seoul, has also been accused of using some of the money to buy expensive paintings. Samsung denies all claims. Further blow occurred in late January when a Seoul court ordered Samsung Group to pay a reported $2.4 billion to creditors of the conglomerate's failed auto unit, in Korea's largest civil court action. Samsung is considering an appeal.